Though his team managed to scrape together five runs last night, Davey Johnson is making one significant tweak to tonight's lineup against the Astros: Danny Espinosa will lead off, with Ian Desmond bumped all the way up to the No. 2 slot.

The primary reason for this: J.A. Happ is starting for Houston, amazingly the first left-hander to start against the Nationals since Johnson took over as manager. And since Roger Bernadina doesn't fare all that well against lefties (career .225 average), it seems like a logical move to bump him down to the 7-hole and go instead with Espinosa (career .277 average vs. lefties).

But there's another byproduct of this: Desmond moving up to the No. 2 slot. He's fared much better up there in his career (slash line: .282/.319/.396) than he has when he's hit eighth (.236/.286/.344). Perhaps this switch might help get Desmond going.

Jordan Zimmermann makes his first start of the second half, as the countdown to his 160-inning limit begins. He enters tonight at 115 innings, so figure seven or eight more outings before he's shut down.

I'm not in Houston for this series, so please enjoy the game and conversation among yourselves…

Interesting batting order move by Davey. I'd like to know what Espis's BA is leading off against LHs. I'll bet it's better than against RHs.Now that Desi is waiting on the ball better, it will be interesting to see his performance tonight.Goooooooooooooooooooooooo Nats!!!

Dumb move. The lead off slot nearly killed Espi earlier in the season. Desmond is lost at the plate, just like Werthless. Just sit Desmond down. Do something constructive like firing the Incompetent hitting coach.

Why is Werth still hitting 5th? He takes the 1st pitch over the plate for strike one. Next pitch is on the outside that he swings and misses or fouls. Next pitch is a ball. Next pitch is on the outside that he either swings and misses or grounds into DP.

Anonymous said…what do you guys think about trading for Denard Span and what will it take to get him[?]Depends on what the Twins want. He's 27, OBP is OK, better than Bernadina's, and he could lead off, but is he enough better to justify sending somebody like Coffey and a AA guy, maybe? I'd just as soon keep the Shark, who might yet get better.

Nationals vs. Astros, Zimmermann vs. Happ. I wonder if tonight is the night that the Nats are the most heavily favored by Las Vegas all season. I think it would be unless they get another very favorable pitching matchup when the Astros come to Washington.

The Nats should do with Werth what Boston did with Crawford. Similar situations. Early in the season he was hitting .155. The Red Sox wanted him to hit in the 2 spot, but it wasn't working. So they had him batting 8th until he got straightened out. Now he's hitting .246 with 6 home runs, etc. Might be "werth" a shot.

John C., amazingly Gaudin was good when he came in with Inherited Runners. Only 1 of 7 scored. Not that 7 inherited runners is a large sample size statistically, that was the only "nice" stat I could find on him as he was horrible as the "long man".

Sec 3, My Sofa said… Anonymous said… what do you guys think about trading for Denard Span and what will it take to get him[?]My opinion: if the Nationals are going to trade for a center fielder, I'd rather give up more and get a really really good one.And after getting fleeced last year (Matt Capps for Wilson Ramos), I don't think there is much interest in another trade with the Nats.

Farid – trades in hindsight are a great thing. Kind of like essentially Sean Burnett for Joel Hanrahan. Do you think Rizzo and the Pirates will deal again? Or Nyjer Morgan (batting .336) for Cutter Dykstra with the Brewers?Rizzo has been fleeced way more than being the fleecor!

Werth to Desi's old spot would be the thinking manager's way to complete the lineup card. So this is only half measures until that finally happens. After last night's gaffe on the bases by Werth there really is no reason to even put him the game at all; can't hit, can't run the bases, and really not impressive defense either. Come to think of it, he really is approaching the playing level of Matt Stairs.

Can Werth Be Traded HAHAHAHAHAHA said… Do you think the Red Sox would take Jayson Werth, Sean Burnett, Livan Hernandez, and Ian Desmond for their top four minor league prospects?I dunno, CWBTH. I'd see if you could get them to take Slaten instead of Burnett.

Wang's averaging around 84 mph. Slider is at 77 mph. Lots of balls left up in the zone. Inconsistent to no sink today after 2 innings. Bottom Line: This is the creaky ancient Buffalo Bisons (believe or not Syracuse looks younger and better in spite of the similar records). Wang gets slaughtered if he pitches like this in the majors. Major egg on face for MIke Rizzo et al.

Marquis looks a whole heck of a lot better than Wang. Albeit Wang may end up in the spot Riggleman put Gaudin in: middle relief on the right side. But he doesn't look like a starter to me at this point. AAA is eating Wang up. His sinker is there … but is inconsistent. Looks about 50-50 right now. No power sinker (ala Lannan/Marquis) over 91. Lots of balls up in the zone. Batting practice.

Sec 3, My Sofa said…Anonymous said…what do you guys think about trading for Denard Span and what will it take to get him[?]Depends on what the Twins want. He's 27, OBP is OK, better than Bernadina's, and he could lead off, but is he enough better to justify sending somebody like Coffey and a AA guy, maybe? I'd just as soon keep the Shark, who might yet get better.I am in the other camp. I love the guy. He has a career .289/.366/.391 slash line in over 2000 ABs (2011 in line with those numbers before the injury) and is super in the field (fast plus good instincts). And I think that he is signed to a reasonable contract through 2015. Much better than the Shark, imo. It will take more than Coffey and a AA guy, but I would pay that price.

Sec 3 – meaning what would I trade for him? I would include some guys that I otherwise want to keep, because I think that he is a long term answer in CF (I should qualify this by saying that he has been out with a concussion, and I would want to see that he has recovered from it before committing to a trade). And I don't see an internal answer in CF for the next 3-4 years (Goodwin is the only one with a realistic chance, and he hasn't even signed yet).I would give up a good pitching prospect – Robbie Ray, or even Peacock if I had to. And I don't think the Twins do it unless they get some current help at the MLB level, which is either Desi or Clip, I think. So one from column A and one from column B. I would do that for Span. Slightly less for Bourjos (even better D, slightly less O, but more time under team control), and even less for Bourn. I don't want Upton; Bernie is almost as good under longer control and much less $$. And I don't think Rasmus is really available for anything remotely close to what we would pay.I think Ray's pregame comment is just another way of saying that he wants to keep Clip, because I don't think that he is reflecting the way players get valued during trades.

Just to clarify my trade comments, I mostly agree with the 'keep them together and finish above .500' crowd. But I see CF as a real hole that will prevent us from taking that next step towards contention, and feel like we need to be prepared to pay market for the solution

feel like we need to be prepared to pay market for the solutionand I would like to see it be a superior defender because I think Werth will continue to erode in the field and Harper is going to be … well, an adventure out there, is my guess. Sorry, I hit 'post' too quickly earlierPS my capcha was unmend.

Zimmermann just abuses Bourn for the first out. It'll go in the books as "swinging," just because there's no stat for "waving futilely."Sanchez fouled off a bunch of 0-2 pitches, and then grounded one off Znn's left shin, which rolled *exactly* to Morse at first for the second out. He'll have a bruise tomorrow, for sure, but it didn't look bad, and he seems fine. Doesn't seem to have hurt his velocity any. He K's Wallace to end the first inning.

I still like BJ Upton over Denard Span. Get him while his offense is on a downward tilt. He is the better deal then. Fewer really good pitching prospects which is something the Rays (perhaps the ONLY TEAM in the majors!) does not need. The Nats DO NOT have that many good prospects. Its still pretty sparse down there whereas before it was almost completely bare. YOU DON'T sell the farm to get guys WHO ARE NOT difference makes like Span and Bourn. Depleting the farm system is a very, very bad idea. Again, as Nancy used to say, Just say NO!

But I can't help remembering … I think it was Bob Gibson? who took a hard liner off the shin, and broke his leg when he landed on it pitching. I think he pitched two more innings before he told anybody. Tough guy.I probably got that story wrong.Oooh, captcha was "cultist". That's me.

Nobody told Roger Bernadina he doesn't hit lefties. Solid single to left center leading off the second.Wow, this Happ kid really is a human rain delay with men on base.Jerry Hairston didn't miss that pitch by all that much, I think–off the end of the bat for a routine fly to left, actually, but if he barrels that … Really, really nice sac bunt from Znn, but Barmes makes a nice play on Espinosa's ground ball in the hole. Still 0-0.

Wang is now throwing mid 70's breaking pitches almost exclusively. He's gone away from his fast ball / sinker in the 5th. Some speculation that the early FB'/sinkers were a part of his rehab/training program but now he is more comfortable with breaking pitches? This does not look good at all Nats fans.

Baja 2: Zimmermann, OTOH, is grab-and-go.Hunter Pence out 5-3, Carlos Lee singles to center on a full count.Chris Johnson flies to Werth. (How many guys named Johnson are there in MLB? After Gonzales, that's got to be high on the list.)And Lee watches from first as Clint Barmes gives the Astros a 2-0 lead, into the Crawford Boxes. Znn's 5th HR in 117 innings, Carp says. Fat pitch, there.

Desmond leads off the third with solid contact, but just got under it a bit, to fly to right.I'm already starting to regret them leaving the bases loaded in the first. Don't tell the players I said that, it might demoralize them.Zimm walks. Morse swings out of his shoes on strike two, fouls another fastball back, and then ties the game into the first row. Not as far as last night, still a HR, his 17th.Beast Mode is in effect, baby.

Wally, you're getting the best of it. Enjoy. I got you.If you're scoring at home, WW stands for "wasn't watching."I wish I could say I wasn't watching Werth's K. Free Prozac for the first 10,000 fans.Ramos fouls out to first to end the top of the third, but (as Jack Brickhouse used to say) IN THE INNING … 2-2, middle 3.

Is JZimm's velo normal? I am a little worried about pitching on a sore leg; seems unwise. Hope to be 'free' soon.Btw, Keppinger brought back two guys who weren't part of SF's top 20 prospects. This for a 30 yr old MI hitting .300 and coming off a 2 WAR season last year. Nix, Coffey, even Marquis are not going to bring back that much, so I think we'll probably keep them. Older guys just don't, unless they have star stats. Ok by me.

Zimm makes a nice diving stop on a hard grounder by Happ, gets up, and airs one out to Morse, who shows some ups to make it close, but couldn't get the bag. Leadoff E5. I think Carp said that's his 7th error.Not to worry. K. K. F8.Routine fly to center-left, but Bernadina called it emphatically, and Jerry Hairston turned and ran the other way. That was funny.Still 2-2 after 3.

FP says it looks like bunts are carrying to right. Roger looked like he wasn't committed to that bunt, I think.But Jerry Hairston is feeling it–too far toward center to reach the short box seats in left, so it's a double high off the wall. With one out, Znn grounds hard up the middle, but not past Happ. Veteran Hairston was digging and diving back already (and you kids at home–that's how it's done). Espinosa grounds to short, Hairston left on second.

According to the Astros' announcers — I'm watching the MLB.tv feed from Houston — Hairston's double would have been a home run in Minute Maid Park's original incarnation. After a season or two, they repainted the yellow line higher up the wall because too many HRs were being hit.

Barmes singles to center to score Lee, and goes to third on the throw home, and it could have been worse–he lined a couple the other way that went foul down the line.Carp and FP are talking about how his slider has flattened out, and his fastball has been up (but effectively so far, mostly) all night.If he gets out of this inning … nevermind. Quintero bunts to the right side for an excellently-placed RBI single, and Happ bunts the runners to second and third for the second out.And Bourn doubles to left for two more. Maybe I spoke too soon about not worrying about his leg. Any way I can blame this on Werth? Coffey is getting warm.

JZimm has to be having problems pushing off with his leg. On the other hand – he is young and has been ridiculously good and bad nights happen. Still think it's the leg. And the reverse lock, which was bound to take effect – was expecting it last night, actually. Maybe the Nats can pull off a dramatic rally? If so, could you start before the ninth please?

This is the worst I have seen Zimmermann in two years. I am hoping his leg is ok. Do not see a noticable limp but I have already switched to Dave and Charlie to bring us back – Does not look good.As for the "trades" that everyone is getting opinions on. I have stated earlier I am all for keeping the band together for the season and seeing what can be done in the off season. That being said, if Rizzo can pull the Capps for Ramos deal with Ramos = Span and Capps being Clippard, I am for that deal. I would guess that the Twins will not go for that even up and will need a prospect as well. They are actually weak at catcher, behind Mauer (what a surprise) so maybe we send them Norris or Flores. Not giving up on us scoring 7 tonight – well what a surprise, Werth with his 2nd strikeout. When is Davey going to sit him?

Doesn't Jordan get ground balls when he is pitching the right way? Kind of surprised ( but yet relieved) to see 3 fly balls. Even though he has been fantastic this year, this is his first full year back. Hope he's ok as it looks like we will pinch hit for him.Nice, Hairston!!

Although the Werth deal has a swamp-iike oder at this point …There's still the comparison between Dunn/Willingham withMorse/Nix. There's no comparison the Nats win that one hands down.From an offensive/defensive/injury perspective. Rizzo gets three stars.

Just tuning in now. Had plenty of bourbon. Thinking I may need the maalox now. My 7year old grandson wants to know why people don't think Ian is the best, and why is Todd Coffey still pitching, I'm wondering the same things.

Coffey starts hot but cools off fast. He whiffs Cliff Johnson, he can-of-corns (1a will get me for that verb) Barmes (and the Shark is CAAAAALLLLLLLLING fly balls), and gets a ground ball from Quintero, but past Zimm in the hole for a single, then walks the pinch-hitter Bogacevic. Is it me, or Zimmerman playing in a step extra tonight?Burnett warming.Bourn singles, UH-gain, over Zimmerman, for one run, 7-5 now.Angel Sanchez up with first and second, and the crowd, IN HOUSTON, is actually getting into it. Been a while since you've heard that, I think.

Bob Carpenter "The big guns are coming up. Morse, Werth, and Ramos".Bob, are you for real? Werth hasn't hit a Home Run in 2 months. Yes, he is due and could hit a Home Run in this band box, and seriously, Werth a big gun?

Beast Mode still in effect! Morse one-hops the fence in center for an automatic double (see, it's not "ground rule" because it's a double everywhere, not based on a park's ground rules. Carp is getting snarky on Werth–hoping he gets an RBI to catch Bourn for the season.Well, no RBI, but a line drive to left. First and third, nobody out.

Would have been a a wild pitch if Jayson Werth had gone to second. Ramos wasn't waving him over to help, and I didn't see it on TV, but Bob said he went halfway there and ran back.Which immediately bites them in the butt. Ramos hits one off the pitcher's foot, to the second baseman, for a 1-4-6 GIFDP. Run scores, no RBI. 7-6 now, nobody on, two out.

Man, we've been watching Espinosa for what, five months now? This guy is something else. Not highlight plays there by any means–he is just so solid, adept, and what an arm.I really like watching this guy.With two outs (both 4-3), Burnett walks Carlos Lee, which isn't the worst thing if he gets RH Chris Johnson.Buuuuut… no. Bloop down the line in right, first and third, Barmes … flies to center. A one-run game.

Again, Werth screws up, this time on defense. Although it didn't cost a run, he should have caught the bloop fly ball down the line in front of him. He decelerated and appeared to let the ball drop to see if it was foul or fair. I'm beginning to think 7 yr and how many million $ is foul!

Been watching since 6-2, just too lazy to grab the iPad. Agree Werth couldn't get that bloop.Wanted to be pissed at Hairston, but can't. Right call to go. Perfect throw. It happens. Interesting its Mattheus, not HRod, here.

Our pitching staff has been a little snake-bit lately. Not just getting shelled, but Lannan hit in the face, JZimm in the leg, Gorzo taking on McCann in a wwf showdown. Did somebody paint targets on them?

I do believe Roger Bernadina has learned his lesson. He's been very, very clear indeed calling fly balls.But what happened to that glove, there, Beast? Not a routine play, but he had that one lined up, and missed it to put Bourn (who else?) at second. No harm, we go to the ninth, Nats need one to tie, two for the lead. Desmond, Zimm, Morse. So there's that. Which is nice.

Yeah its ashame … they could make up some ground tonight with a win over the first "seller" basement dwellers Astros. Give credit to the 'Stros and Bourn … playing like he is saying "take me! me! me!" to Rizzo.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh.Zimmerman misses a oppo by inches, just foul, plenty of distance.Anyone hear the attendance? They are into it.Zimm grounds to second.That's 26 outs. Morse, or else.

Game of inches. Hairston getting thrown out at 2nd, Zim's foul ball HR, and there were a few other close ones tonight. It's too bad J-Zimm didn't have it tonight, because we finally gave him some run support. Hope he's okay.

Werth took a siesta that cost us a run. Had he gone to second on the non wild putch, he would ahve gone to third on Ramos' grounder, and scored on Bernadina's grounder. Got to wonder what is going on, because if it isn't one thing it is another. It is hard to believe one person can do so many things to screw the team's chances.A side note The Almighty Nats bullpen leads the majors in blown saves. Just think if he had the average number of blown saves we would be 14 games over .500.

RISP kills us again.Nats 2 for 10 (1 was Werth's hit that didn't score Morse, the other Desmond that did score Cora.)Astros 4 for 8. Had he been 4 for 10, we probably win. Come on Eck get these guys hitting with RISP.

This loss all on JZ. He was terrible. Throwing meatballs out there while ahead in the count. 6 runs should win you a game, especially against the STROS!! Gonna need at least 10 runs today, Livo is pitching. Can he get through two innings without us being down 4 or 5 ????

A side note The Almighty Nats bullpen leads the majors in blown saves. Just think if he had the average number of blown saves we would be 14 games over .500. That statistic is way not enough to judge anything.First off, the Nats have won a number of those blown save games.Secondly, you have to take into account how many save opportunities there were. For example, the Nats are also (tied for) 5th in successful saves, and 4th best in number of Holds.

A DC Wonk said… So, here's a question for those who keep pushing W-L record as a way to "prove" that Marquis is better than Livo.If Marquis is 8-4, and JZim is 6-8, does that tell us Marquis is better than JZim? July 20, 2011 8:49 AM _____________________________If we were in the 1970's, I think everyone would say "yes". Obviously the answer is no but JZim has the league 4th best ERA and he wasn't chosen as an All Star because W/L still means a lot.A little surprised on how Davey is usually so nice talking about his players and chopped up JZim pretty well. I chalk up JZim's problems in the 2nd inning on that shot to the leg.

Proof that the Nats are the Real Kardiac Kids(at least to my minimal understanding)I was poking around FanGraphs, and found that the Nats have the highest "pLI" in the league of any team. This is "player Leverage Index", which, basically means: how important that at bat is, how high a pressure situation it is, etc.Basically — if I'm understanding this — that means that the Nats (on average, per at bat for the entire season) have more nail-biting games than anyone in the league.(Am I understanding that correctly?)Further, phLI is off the charts compared to everybody else (meaning: our pinch hitters are in higher pressure situations than anyone) — which would mean that a decent pinch hitter or two for the Nats would mean more (make a difference more) than for other teams(The Nats also have the third lowest BABIP — what's up with that?)

Mark'd said… Interesting approach by Davey. I would kept it simple and just flip flipped Bernie and Desi. Espi is .182 leading off. July 19, 2011 4:58 PM ________________________________Difference yesterday is how bad Espi looked in the game. Put him in leadoff just changed the whole dynamic. It helped Desmond.

NatsLady said… DC Wonk — Seems about right. .500 team (not too many blowouts either way).But I'm thinking that, perhaps, some teams are .500 and they do have blowouts either way. I *think* the stats are telling us that, even for .500 teams, they are "in" more games than average. Or, to put another way: both their wins and their losses are closer than other teams.Now — given their miserable team batting average, if they could only just get some hitting . . .

Sec 3, My Sofa said… (The Nats also have the third lowest BABIP — what's up with that?) a lot of routine ground balls to the second baseman?But even routine ground balls should find "the hole" with the same approx average as other teams, no?

Steve M. said… I think it would be a big mistake to move a Gold Glove calibre player in Espinosa over to shortstop. You change the player sometimes by changing positions. It could affect his entire mindset. Trading Desmond at this point doesn't make sense as you are selling low anyway.July 19, 2011 10:52 AM ___________________________This is a point resonating with me now. I think you find comfort at positions and batting orders. The only player succeeding at leadoff is Bernadina. I also hate the thought of changing Espinosa from 2nd to Shortstop.I think if the team makes change it should be to find a new Shortstop by trade or free agency.

Or, to put another way: both their wins and their losses are closer than other teams.So is there a stat for the average margin in games, MLB-wide? Maybe average score differential during a game, say, at the end of each inning? Some games are close for 7 or 8 or more, and then become blowouts, which is not the same as first-inning blowouts that get close with a big inning.

ahem…yeah. Nice job on the PBP, though.Speaking of PBP, I'll get to watch today's game in real-time (yay!), which won't be the case on Friday or Saturday (we interrupt this post for a statement regarding my platform: the games are too dang late). Anyway, where was I? Oh yeah, we need Good Livo on the mound and some hits with RISP in the top half of innings. (Feel free to strand 'em in the bottom half – if you even get any base runners at all, which you shouldn't feel obligated to do.) Then, a curly w and series win in the books and off to LaLa Land and an off day. 'kay thanks.Sec 3, My Sofa said… Coffey starts hot but cools off fast. He whiffs Cliff Johnson, he can-of-corns (1a will get me for that verb) Barmes (and the Shark is CAAAAALLLLLLLLING fly balls), and gets a ground ball from Quintero, but past Zimm in the hole for a single, then walks the pinch-hitter Bogacevic. Is it me, or Zimmerman playing in a step extra tonight? Burnett warming. Bourn singles, UH-gain, over Zimmerman, for one run, 7-5 now. Angel Sanchez up with first and second, and the crowd, IN HOUSTON, is actually getting into it. Been a while since you've heard that, I think. July 19, 2011 10:18 PM

A DC Wonk said… Sec 3, My Sofa said… (The Nats also have the third lowest BABIP — what's up with that?) ————————— a lot of routine ground balls to the second baseman?***************************But even routine ground balls should find "the hole" with the same approx average as other teams, no?———————————-Not my expertise, but I was thinking that if they don't hit the ball well, fewer fall in, line drives being more likely to find a hole than slow three-hoppers, usually.

D.X. Wonk I know the facts you say are true, another reason they blow many saves is they are up only by 1 run so if you give up any it is blown. However, when they are called they need to perform better as a group. Ole Kerosine does a lot better when we are behind than ahead when he does in, so that is how I would use him.

Manassas Nats Fan said… D.X. Wonk I know the facts you say are true, another reason they blow many saves is they are up only by 1 run so if you give up any it is blown. However, when they are called they need to perform better as a group. My question, really, is how are they performing? I really don't know. I'm just saying that "blown saves" is a pretty crude measure — after all, it is possible to to have 12 blown saves and to win all 12 games, in which case the "poor performance" isn't effecting the bottom line (yet).Here's another example. Burnett leads the team with 6 blown saves in 43 appearances. That stinks and he's hurting the team.But Clippard is right behind with 5 blown saves (also in 43 appearances). Does that mean he's almost as bad as Burnett? No way. But we need to look at other stats to show that.For example: Clippard vs Burnett:ERA: 1.82 vs 5.50WHIP: 0.83 vs 1.46BAA: .148 vs .267My point is that if you look at blown saves here, the two pitchers might look comparable. It's completely misleading. Now — does anybody know how to look at those other stats (WHIP, BAA, Pct runners stranded, etc.) for the entire team, but only relievers? (I have no idea!)

Sorry, no can do. The tv set is in the basement and the 'puter is upstairs (two flights). Maybe someone else will be able to pinch hit. Sec 3, My Sofa said… All right, 1a. You have the booth, it looks like, for this day game. Go get 'em, kid. July 20, 2011 9:53 AM

Altuve debuts for Astros vs. veteran LivanBy Jon Star/MLB.com | 7/20/2011The Astros made headlines on Tuesday by executing a trade ahead of the July 31 Trade Deadline. Houston sent Jeff Keppinger to San Francisco in exchange for two Minor League right-handers, but it wasn't Keppinger's exit that is generating buzz. Instead it is the anticipated arrival of the highly touted Double-A prospect Jose Altuve, who joined the Astros on Tuesday night.Manager Brad Mills said that the second baseman will be in the lineup on Wednesday."Right now I plan on playing him at second base. He's going to get significant playing time, there's no doubt about that," Mills said. "We're not bringing a guy up here who has done what he's done to sit. If he's healthy, he's going to play for the most part. He'll be the second baseman tomorrow."Altuve, 21, led the Minors with a combined batting average of .389 between Class A Lancaster and Double-A Corpus Christi. He hit .408 in 52 games at Lancaster before hitting .361 in 35 games at Corpus. He also has a combined 10 home runs and 24 stolen bases between the two stops.General manager Ed Wade expressed excitement regarding Altuve's promotion."He brings enthusiasm and speed and ability," Wade said." I'm hoping that he gets a lot of chances to play here and guys feed off that energy. He has a chance to experience what the big leagues are all about and hopefully accelerate his process to stay here."While Altuve's presence shakes up the Astros' lineup, Nationals manager Davey Johnson is tinkering with his own order. Johnson bumped Danny Espinosa to the leadoff spot from his regular spot in the two-hole and elevated Ian Desmond from eighth to second while dropping Roger Bernadina from his traditional leadoff spot to seventh.Though Johnson acknowledged the changes may not be permanent, he felt the alterations were worth a look."Desmond has swung the bat well the last couple of weeks," said Johnson. "He's going to get more at-bats [hitting second], and that's what he needs. I thought about it before now. It wasn't something I just woke up in the middle of the night. It's not a major thing."The Nationals' new-look lineup will attempt to support Livan Hernandez, who is looking to regain his rhythm after consecutive rough outings. The veteran right-hander has tallied just 9 2/3 innings over his last two starts, allowing 12 runs (nine earned) and 18 hits. He is just 2-7 in his last nine decisions dating back to May 3.